RIP: Thoughts on my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L (Mark I)
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| My copy of the 24-70L. |
In 2023, after 17 years of enjoying digital photography, I finally decided to divest from APS-C as my main system and go on to Full Frame. I invested in both a Nikon D610 and a Canon 5D Mark III.
I purchased the 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8L, and a 70-200mm f/4L from Hunt's Photo in Hanover, Massachusetts, one of only two somewhat local camera shops remaining along with the seasonal Benner's Camera in Brockton. All three items were in fantastic condition and offered at a reasonable price so I purchased it all. The 24-70L was the cleanest item, no doubt, two decades old and not a single bit of dust optically. Nice!
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From March through August of 2024, this lens was my best friend until one day, out of nowhere, "Err 01: The communication between the camera and lens is faulty". Ok, clean the contacts. No problem. I've seen this code with Canon once before, cleaned the contacts, and never had an issue again. Not this time.
Upon trial and error and a lot of frustration, I was able to get it to work fine at f/2.8 - nothing else. It will shoot wide open but that's it, you can't stop down. Turns out this is quite a common issue with these lenses. There's a faulty ribbon cable in the lens and when it goes, this is what we get.
Nevertheless, the 24-70 f/2.8L treated me well, albeit short and sweet. High-end digital gear is something new to me - picking up the "antiquated" pieces (and for cheap) during the ongoing DSLR Apocalypse has been allowing me so. This lens not only outperformed any lens (digital) I had ever used but truly made me begin to really enjoy photography a lot more again.
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Indian Head River Valley, Hanson, Mass. | Canon 5D Mark III | Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM |
This lens is a beast. It's heavy, and it can double as a blunt force object too - the front end is SOLID metal. While this is the first lens that has ever functionally died on me, the day has come. RIP. It's not worth keeping to shoot wide open. Since I am working on trying to downgrade my camera hoard, err, camera collection, I decided it needed to go to eBayland to retire or be parted out.
I listed it as "for parts/repair" and for $300 - knowing I'd take a best offer of $250 if it came in. Next week is vacation, and I only paid $220 for this at Hunt's. Barely five minutes later, I got an offer for $270. Accepted it, no need to wait. I was surprised to see these actually sell for $220-320 in non-working condition when I was pricing it out to list.
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Norwich State Hospital, CT | Canon 5D Mark III | Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM |
I would repurchase this lens any day. I will probably get a Mark II next time. I have a love/hate thing for Canon. I either absolutely love the lenses and specific cameras or they just do not do it for me. This lens along with my 70-200mm f/4L has just really helped me grow in ways other things haven't. I can add my Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D to that list too.
The 24-70mm f/2.8L for me was the most capable general-purpose zoom lens I've used.
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| My Grandparents. Hanson, Mass. | Canon 5D Mark III | Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM |
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| Brandon. South Windsor, CT | Canon 5D Mark III | Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM |
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